Folding crate.



- w. J. REBSER.

FOLDING CRATE. APPLICATION FILED JULY M, 1910.

Patented Oct. 17,1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

W. J. REESER.

FOLDING CRATE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 27, 1910.

\ Patented 00t.17,1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

'wumtow WILMER J. REESER, OF BUTLER, MINNESOTA.

FOLDING CRATE.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, \VILMER J. Rnnsnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Butler, in the county of Otter Tail and State of lhtinnesota, have .invented certain new and useful Improvements in. Folding Crates, of which the following is a specification, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings.

This. invention relates to an improved folding poultry crate and has for'its object to provide a collapsible metallic crate of such construction that the same may be compactly folded and nested for convenience in transportation.

Another object is to provide a metallic crate of the above character which will be sanitary and may be easily and quickly cleaned. A still further object resides in the provision of a simple and etlicient metallic crate, of extremely durable construction and one which may be manufactured at a low cost.

lVith these and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, andillustrated in the accom iany ing drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the crate assembled; Fig. 2 is a. similar view of the crate folded; Fig. 3 is a scction'taken on the line of Fig. l; and Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4l-l of Fig. 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawings 5 indicates the bottom member of the crate which is tonned from sheet metal. The edge portions of this bottom plate are bent upward to 'irovide a shallow trough or pan in which a removable cardboardsupplen'ientary bottom or floor (3 is adapted to be placed. The edges of the bottom plate 5 are bent over a wire 8 to form a bead 7 which. greatly strengthens the bottom mcmber so that the same will retain. its trough like form under the: weight of the remaining sections of the crate. The sides and ends 9 and 10 respectively carry hinge straps 11. which are engaged upon the edge wire 7 of the bottom These sides and ends of the crate are preferably perforated as shown at 12 to allow of a free circulation of air within the crate To the outer longitudinal edges of the side members 9 the top sections 13 are hinged, the hinge straps 11 having their Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 27, 1910.

Patented Oct. 1'7, 1911.

Serial No. 574,146.

ends bent around a wire lei over which the edge portions of the top sections are turned.

Spaced slots 15 and 15 are formed in the top sections 13 adjacent to each end. The slots 15 which are disposed nearest the free longitudinal edges of the top sections are together and a suitable lead seal fixed thereon if desired.

In order to allow access to the interior of the crate without necessitatingthe opening of the top sections, I provide a pivoted plate 1'? arranged on one of the top sections 13 which is adapted to open and close an opening 18 formed in said section. This plate is formed with a finger piece 17 by means of which it may be moved and with this finger piece a spring latch bar 19 is adapted to engage to hold the plate closed against inadvertent movement during transportation of the c ate. 7

In order to secure. the members of the crate in their folded or collapsed positions,

an eye 20 is secured to the bottom 5 adjacent to each end thereof and is adapted to extend through the slots 15 when the sides and top sections are l olded inwardly upon each other. The sealing rod 17 may then be passed through the eyes to securely retain the members in their folded positions. The eyes 90 also limit the outward movement of the end sections 10 when the crate is being assembled or set up in position.

By providing the removal'ile supplementary cardboard bottom (3, the crate may be kept thoroughly sanitary at all times and as it is entirely constructed of sheet metal, it will be obvious that the crate may also be easily and quickly cleansed. As shown in of the drawings when the crate is collapsed and the parts secured by means of the sealing rod, the crates may be very coinpactly arranged or nested in large numbers for transportation thus greatly eeonomizing space. The simple construction of the device also renders the same extremely durable so "preferred embodiment of my invention, it

will be understood that the same may be;

variously modified in its form, proportion and details of construction Without departing from the essential feature or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described the invention What is-claimed is i A collapsible crate comprising a bottom n1ember, side and end members hinged to the edges of the bottom member, top sections "hinged to the free edges of the side member's, the free edges of said top sections overlapping When the crate is set up,"said top sections'having spaced transversely extending slots adjacent to their ends, the slots nearest the longitudinal edges of said top sections through said registered slots,

other slots in said top sections when't'he crate is collapsed, said latter eyes limiting WILMER J. REEsER."

\Vitn'esses p L. E. DAVISON,

I A. P. PIERCE. v

"copies ot this patent may be obtained for five cents each,'by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 63f

registering when the crate is set up, ey'es secured to the end members to extend an eye cen-.. trally secured to each end of the bottommember and adapted to be received by the the outward movement of said end members their assembled or collapsed In testimony whereof I hereuntoafiix my 

